NPS Awarded Grant to Expand School Breakfast

Norwalk Public Schools has been awarded a $52,000 grant from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the WalMart Foundation. The grant money will fund equipment needed to expand a “grab ‘n go” breakfast program piloted last year at Brookside Elementary School to a majority of schools across the district.

Norwalk Grows and FoodCorps provided Norwalk Public Schools with the opportunity to launch the Brookside breakfast pilot through a Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry mini-grant. Instead of serving breakfast in the cafeteria, the grant helped pay for a cart filled with food that students could grab on their way into class in the morning.

The new program is scheduled to roll out in three phases. The first two phases will be completed during the 2017-2018 school year. Phase one will kick off in October to bring breakfast carts to Kendall, Jefferson, Tracey, Marvin and Silvermine elementary schools, and Ponus Ridge Middle School. Phase two will begin during the second half of the school year, and includes Columbus, Cranbury, Fox Run, Naramake, Rowayton and Wolfpit elementary schools, and West Rocks Middle School. Phase three is scheduled to roll out at Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk High School, Nathan Hale Middle School and Roton Middle School during the 2018-2019 school year.

“We are very pleased that Norwalk has been selected to receive this grant from the AASA,” said NPS Superintendent Dr. Steven Adamowski. “Our schools and the entire district are committed to ensuring all students start their day prepared to learn and succeed, and breakfast plays a critical role in making that happen. With this grant, we can build upon the success of our pilot breakfast program at Brookside.”

Norwalk Public Schools, Whitsons Culinary Group Inc., Norwalk Grows and Food Corps will work with parent volunteers and school leaders to implement the expanded breakfast program.